A web place for epistles, sermons, homilies, and other spiritual and pastoral reflections of Fr John Brian Paprock, including Sunday sermons from Holy Transfiguration Chapel in Madison Wisconsin and links to articles published on-line. All images are from the archives of Fr John Brian. Most of them are photographs taken by him. Permission to use any of the content of this blog needs to be requested - frjohnbrian@gmail.com

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Before the Ascension, there are a few more lessons and a few things we need to understand.

Fr John Brian explores another part of the mysterious time - when Christ walked alive among us after rising from the dead.

Reflecting on 1 Peter 3:17 - "It is better, if it isthe will of God, that you suffer for good deeds, rather than evil doing." - Fr John Brian reminds us that the power of the ascension rest squarely upon the power of the cross.

This sermon uses the English translation of the Aramaic by Lamsa. The Aramaic Bible, also called the Peshitta, was written in the original language of Jesus and his apostles.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, May 29, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission
Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

More Americans Are Praying About Their Health

More Americans are praying about health issues — both for themselves and for the health of others — according to a new study [http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/rel-3-2-67.pdf] published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

And the increase in prayer as a "coping resource," as the paper puts it, occurred in people whether or not they had health insurance or whether their health had taken a turn for the better or worse.

Researchers analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey, which is conducted regularly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new study focused mainly on surveys from 2002 and 2007, which showed that the percentage of adults praying for their health had increased from 43% to 49% over that time period.

Women were more likely to pray than men: 56% of women said they had prayed about health concerns in 2007 (up from 51% in 2002), compared with 40% of men (up from 34% in 2002). African Americans (61%) were more likely to pray than whites (45%). And people who were well-educated, married or had experienced a change in health status (for better or worse) were also more likely than others to pray about health concerns.

"We're seeing a wide variety of prayer use among people with good income and access to medical care," said co-author Dr. Amy Wachholtz, a psychiatrist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in a statement. "People are not exchanging health insurance for prayer."

On the other hand, people with the highest incomes were 15% less likely to pray than those with the lowest, and people who exercised regularly were 25% less likely to pray for their health than people who didn't.

Formal religious participation did not appear to influence the use of prayer for health, the study found. "The United States did have an increase in worship attendance across multiple religious faiths immediately after the 9/11 attack, but that has not stayed elevated," said Wachholtz. "However, people continued to use informal and private spiritual practices such as prayer."

But the study didn't address exactly what kind of prayer people engaged in — for example, Wachholtz noted greater public awareness of Buddhist-based mindfulness practices that can include prayerful meditation — or whether people tended to pray before health events or after they occurred.

The study characterized prayer as a form of "alternative medicine." Indeed, some research shows that the practice of meditation and mindfulness may have some health benefits, including improving the rate of pregnancy in women undergoing IVF and helping patients with chronic pain.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The contrast between a birthday and eternal life can be startling. One is the annual solar return that marks one's mortality. The other, a life beyond the confines of this world. Yet, both can be celebrated.

This sermon includes a homiletic sermon on 1 John Chapter 5, in light of the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke. This sermon uses the English translation of the Aramaic by Lamsa. The Aramaic Bible, also called the Peshitta, was written in the orignal language of Jesus and his apostles. In that original canon of scripture, there was only one Epistle of John and it was the last book of the New Testament. In that context, reading the end of John's first epistle can give insight into the whole of the Epistles and their instruction about eternal life.

Fr John Brian also spends a few extra minutes reflecting on 50 years of life in this world.

So, this is like two sermons in one: Fifty Years and Eternal Life.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, May 22, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Monday, May 16, 2011

The scriptures and our Orthodox services make it clear that no hard hearts or evil ways will endure - all will be destroyed.

This sermon is a homiletic sermon on Hebrews Chapter 3, in light of the end of the Gospel of John. This sermon uses the English translation of the Aramaic by Lamsa. Fr John Brian uses this opportunity to discuss result of sin as an allergic reaction.

A few extra minutes are given by Fr John Brian to quell the current hearsay of end-of-the-world and rapture gurus who seek to lead people astray.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, May 15, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Why such a an image of a warrior for spiritual work as servants of the Prince of Peace? Fr John Brian uses other New Testament references to enhance our understanding of Ephesians 6:10-20 appointed for this Sunday of the Resurrection.

It is clear that the image of armor is defensive rather than offensive - and it is clear that it is intended for an inward and spiritual battle - not an assault nor a war among our fellow humans.

This was given on Mother's Day in the US and Fr John Brian talks about its pacifistic origins after the US Civil War.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, May 8, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Monday, May 02, 2011

Without a Doubt, Really
(or you choose the punctuation, e.g., Without a Doubt Really. or Without a Doubt, Really?)

Christ is Risen!
The New Sunday
St Thomas' Sunday

Can there be any doubt?
Yet there is - but usually for the wrong reasons. Fr John Brian gives a sermon about the great even of the Resurrection through the story of St Thomas as recorded in the Gospel of John (chapter 20), as well as the Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy (chapter 2).

It is a truly revolutionary and controversial event that leaves with a challenge to living in this world. We can no longer live as though the resurrection, and it call to releasing sin for the redemption of all of us.

The same question remains, although with greater understanding: Now that death and suffering are defeated, what do you choose?

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, May 01, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.